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Internships

What is an Internship?

An internship is a pre-professional career training experience with intentional learning goals and critical evaluation. Read moreless

It is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting.

Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent. — National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Internships may be full or part-time, paid or unpaid positions, credit or non-credit bearing, and generally are anywhere between a three month to one year experience. The duration is set through agreement with the employer, internship coordinator, and student. An employer supervisor assigns specific tasks and evaluates the overall work of the intern. Learning objectives are individually created between the student and internship coordinator or the faculty member in the case of credit bearing internship. The student is responsible for required self-reflection and evaluation throughout and at the completion of the internship.

The internship process is competitive and requires forethought and advanced planning.

Students

Why you should do an internship:

Employers want education and experience.

You’ll need a professional network — begin building it now.

You’ll learn and practice professionalism, the skill set employers expect but don’t train.

You’ll learn more about what’s right and wrong for you, to validate and solidify your career goals.

You’ll learn the job search process — a necessary skill in any economy.

You may land a professional job; many employers use internships as long-term job interviews.